Damian Lillard has officially signed a three-year, $42 million contract to return to the Portland Trail Blazers, realizing a long-awaited reunion with the franchise that drafted him. Lillard came to the signing party with his kids, Damian Jr., 7, and twins Kalii and Kali, 4. This moment represented a huge achievement not only in his professional life but personally.
Lillard’s return is particularly poignant after a terribly disappointing season laden with injuries. He was unable to play more than 58 games that season due to deep vein thrombosis. Later, he underwent surgery after suffering a torn left Achilles tendon that he sustained in a playoff series versus the Indiana Pacers. Involving this injury should cause him to miss all of the 2025-26 season. Even after all of that, Lillard was phenomenal last season. He just missed out on leading the league by placing 10th in scoring at 24.9 and assists at 7.1, further proving his emergence as an elite NBA player.
Lillard spent 11 seasons with the Portland Trail Blazers. His extraordinary five years with the team would have a lasting impact on the franchise, even after he was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks. He set the Trail Blazers franchise’s records for the most points and 3-pointers made. He’s been named an All-Star nine times! His transformative scoring impact continued to hit new heights during his last season in Portland. In doing so, he averaged an absurd 32.2 points per game, a career-best.
Lillard talked about how great it is to come home to Portland.
“Just knowing that I’m going to be back home for all parts of my life, with my kids, playing for the Trail Blazers, driving on the same streets that I’ve driven on pretty much my entire adulthood,” – Damian Lillard
Needless to say his kids were just as excited about the move back to Portland. Lillard recounted a humorous moment when his daughter, Kalii, seemed relieved to learn they would no longer have to travel to Milwaukee.
“Wait, so, like, we don’t have to get on an airplane to Milwaukee no more?” – Damian Lillard’s daughter [“quotes” – source: Associated Press]
Given Lillard’s return on contract, it’s a fair question. These terms give him the ability to opt out after two years and even feature a no-trade clause. This new flexibility might give him greater and different options as he goes through the next stage of his career.
The Portland community has embraced Lillard since he was drafted as the sixth overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft. Known for his iconic “Dame Time” gesture, which signifies his ability to make clutch shots, he has become a beloved figure in the city. His signature shoe deal with Adidas has added to his influence on and off the court.
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